DHARMASHALA, July 14: The Tibetan Spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama arrived in Rewalsar (Tso Pema) in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh Wednesday to begin a two-day teaching on ‘Heart treasure of the enlightened ones’, coinciding with the birthday of Guru Padmasambhava (Trelo Tsechu).

According to Tibetan lunar calendar, today is the 10th of the 5th month of the year of Monkey, which is customarily celebrated as the birth of Guru Rinpoche and deemed auspicious as it comes once in every 12-year cycle.

The Tibetan spiritual leader today offered prayer and ‘tsog offerings’ and gave teachings on ‘Rigzin Dhondup’ empowerment and Dza Patrul Rinpoche’s ‘Heart Treasure of the Enlightened Ones’ at the Urgyen Heruka Nyima Monastery.

He also led a ceremony for generating the awakening mind of Bodhichitta and gave the vows of upasaka and upasaki or lay-practitioner.

Prior to the teaching, state oracle and protective deities including Nechung Choegyal graced Tso Pema in the presence of His Holiness at the Nyingma Monastery at around 7:30 a.m. today.

“We are here together on this special occasion in this special place with its long-standing Nyingma Monastery that was founded by Dudjom Rinpoche. I’ve been here many times before and I’m happy to be here again,” the Dalai Lama said yesterday while addressing over 6,000 devotees including Tibetans, people from Himalayan regions and foreigners.

His Holiness also remarked on how we think of physical pain. He said that if we consider it a catalyst for purifying negative actions, it would transform how we perceive physical pain.

“We make problems for ourselves if we view others in terms of ‘us’ and ‘them’. If we create the cause of happiness, we will not only overcome unhappiness but also have positive influence on those around us,” he said adding that one should not harm others if one can’t help.

The monks of Namgyal Monastery today also offered prayers on the special occasion at the main temple Thekchen Chöling Tsuglakhang in Dharamshala. The 81-year old spiritual leader would grace the last day of the 5-day prayer offering, which would be on a full moon of the lunar month.